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Ties: Call and Response

Goal: To set up the basic contexts needed to improvise with rhythmic ties.

Out of Tempo

All Levels

“Out of Tempo” exercises are not presented separately in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV improvisations. Should any exercise prove difficult performed in tempo, out of tempo versions of the materials in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV can be modeled on Ear Training I and Ear Training II approaches to out of tempo improvisations.

In Tempo

Teacher sets up a tempo, time signature, tonality, rhythms.

Start with one note per measure and add different rhythms as students become more comfortable with the exercise. For more confident students, use non-repeating notes and rhythm patterns.

Refer to the Tie Smorgasbord for tie combinations to use in the improvisations.

Beginning

  1. Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “I sing a ‘tied rhythm pattern’ and you repeat it.”
  2. Students do so.

Intermediate

  1. Student sets up a pattern as above and prompts, “I sing a ‘tied rhythm pattern’ and you (the teacher or another student) repeat it.”
  2. Teacher or student does so.

Advanced

  1. Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Choose a ‘tied rhythm pattern’ and go around the class sharing the ‘tied rhythm pattern.'”
  2. Students do so.